Footwear



H. C. PORR May 28, 1929.

FOOTWEAR Filed June 21, 1928 INVENTOR finrz'eiifw 61-1 07 ATTOR/VYraanmi my 28; 1929; I A UNITED "STATES v 1.11s,147- PATENT OFFICE.

va 0. roan, or mew xonx, n. x, ABSIGNOB 'ro THE woman's INDIA 3mm enovnme. comm, or nauca'rucx, commcr cur, A. conronarxou application filledJune 21,

This invention relates in general'to footwear and particularly toovershoes of the gaiter type.

The principal object of the 1nvent1on is to provide a gaiterhaving acuff which may be variousl neat styl es to suit the individual fancy ofthe wearer and afford variety. The cufi 1s composed of such material andso made that it may be changed from one style of wearlng to' anotherwithout leaving any creases 1n the cuff. The cuff, is so constructedthat it retains the style or shape of whichever of several styles thewearer chooses'fo-adopt. There are several Ways of wearing the adustable cuff, for instance, it may be extended to its full height roundthe leg, or it may be turned all the way down to provide a cuff ofunlform width, or folded over in several intermediate positions, suchas, to form a spiral cufi'. Heretofore, where cufis have been turned upto afford further protection to the leg, the cuff has required aseparate closure of some form to exclude the weather, but in the presentinvention, the cuff itself forms its own closure in that one end of thecuff overlaps the other end and thus affords maximum protection as wellas a neat appearance.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds. IIn the accompanying drawing:

. Fig. 1 represents a gaiter embodying the nvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; v

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 represent various ways 1n which the cuff may beadjusted.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 10 indicates generally'agaiter having an upper 11, and whlch preferably is provided L with anopening in the front and any sultable form of fastening means forreleasably holding the edges of the opening together. Tn the presentembodiment of the inventlon, this fasslider 12 which en ages ordisengages two "parallel strings ofastening elements 13, as is wellunderstood in the art. The upper 11 hasaii adjustable cufi 14 which maybe in the form-of a band having two ends designated 15 and 16which arearranged to overlap and form closure. The cuff 14 may be vulcanizin lyor otherwise secured adjacent its lower e go 17 I to the top edge 18 ofthe upper 11, the end 15 extending upward substantially as anextenarranged in any of several different .may also be composed ofsimilar rubber 23 tening means is illustrated as including a' roorwm1828. Serial 30. 287,058.

opening, the other end 16 constituting an overlap which is free of thetop edge 18. The cufi' 14 carries a downwardly directed lip 19 whichextends around the front and sides of the upper 11 and covers the slider12 when the same is in its uppermost position. The lip 19 forms thelower portion of the end or overlap '16 and is'releasably connected at.its free end by any satisfactor means such as a snap fastener 20, tothead acent side of the upperll so that the end 16 may be released andswung open or secured -to hold the end portions 15 and 16 of the cuff inoverlapping re lation and concealing the slider 12 as well as excludingthe weather.-

The cufi 14 is composed of non-creasing material such as a layer ofvulcanized rubber 21 havin cloth 22 on both sides, so that no matterwhat position the top edge of the cuff 75 is adjusted to, the resultantcufi' will present a neat and finished appearance and may be changed, atwill, from one style or adjustment to another without wrinkling. Theupper 11 having cloth 24 and a linin 24. Preferably the same material isused for the outside of the upper and both sides of the cuff. In orderto reinforce the connection of the lower edge 17 of the cuff to'the topedge 18 of the 'upper, a strip of suitable material such as fabric 25,may be interposed between the rubber 21-and one of the cloth layers 22of the cufl and is extended downward between the rubber 23 and thelining 24 of the upper 11. This reinforcement prevents the cuff beingtorn from the top edge 18 of the upper when the end 16 is manipulated.Other means of reinforcement may be used, such as a few stitches throughthe cuff 14 and the upper 11 where the overlapping end 16 joins the edge18 of the upper.

In Fig. 3, the cuff 14: has been folded over to its full extent and inthis instance it produces a turned down cuff of substantially 100 equalwidth throughout its girth. In the interest of neatness the top edge 18of the upper may be slightly lower on the side opposite to theoverlapping ends 15 and 16, so that when the cuff is turned down to itsfull'extent, the top will present a horizontally even planecircumferentially of the cuff. In Fi 6 the cuff has been turned upwardso'as to afford more extensive protection and the top corner of theoverlapping and 110 16 has been slightly turned over to give the cuff aneat and pleasing appearance without materially reducing itsprotective'qualities. However,this corner need not be folded, but mayextend upward if desired. In Figs. 4 and 5 the adjustable cuff 14 hasbeen turned down to different positions to present different spiral apearances, in Fig. 4 being shown turned own a little more than in theFig. 5. These four styles of. cufi's are merely illus- .trative of thevarious possible arrangements of the cuff, but it is obvious that manyother styles within the range ofindividual fancy may be quickly obtainedby suitable manipulation. The cuff being somewhat elastic preferablyfits tightly or snugly around theleg providing protection in all of itspositions any one of which it retains until re-adjusted.

By reason of the non-creasing qualities of the cuff, it may bequicklychanged from one style of wearing to another without presentingan untidy appearance, which might otherwise result.

The invention is particularly intended for use on gaiters of a type openat front and closed by a multi le fastener whose elements areinterengagea le by a slider and having "also a waterproof sole portionvulcanized and united to a waterproof upper portion of fabric andrubber. The cuff may be applied to any type of waterproof footwearhowever having an adjusta le opening although especially advantageouswith footwear hav ing a front opening equipped with multiple fastenerswhich are adapted to be operated by a slider for the reason that theoutwardly extendin portion or lip 19 conceals the somewhat 0 jectionableappearance of the operating slider for said multiple fasteners whileadding somewhat to the dressy appearance of the article. Reference istherefore being made to the accompanying claims for an understanding ofthe scope-of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. A gaiter having an upper provided with a cuff having two ends, one ofwhich is free and overlaps the-other, and means for detachablyconnecting the overlapping end to the side of the gaiter, the top edgeof said cuff being turnable down along 'a portion of said edge andthroughout its extent from end to end, whereby the wearer may, at will,arrange said cuff in an of a variety of wearing styles.

2. A gaiter aving an upper provided with a cufii' having two ends, oneof said ends being 'free and providing an overlap upon the other, saidcufl' having a depending lip extending around the front and sides of theupper, said lip forming the lower portion of the overlap, and means fordetachably securing said lip by its free end to the adjacent side of theupper.

In a gaiter having an upper, a cufi having a lower edge connected to thetop edge of the upper, said cuff including two ends one I Q of which isfree and overlaps the other end, said cuff carrying a downwardlydirected lip which extendsaround the sides and front of the upper, saidlip forming the lower portion of the overlapping end and merging wth'said I cuff at the connection of said cuff to the upper; means fordetachably connectin the free end of said lip to the adjacent si e ofthe gaiter, and means for reinforcing the connection of said cufi' tothe top edgeof said upper where the lip merges with the cuff. w

4. In a gaiter having an upper=which is openable at the front andincluding a fastening'element at the top, a cuff having two ends one ofwhich forms an overlap upon the other, the top edge of said cuff beingsubstantially per to facilitate the introduction and the re-' moval ofthe foot, means for closing at least a portion of the length of saidopening in the upper, said upper including a top portion which extendsabove the closing means and.

which forms a cuff having two ends, one of the ends being free andadapted to overlap the other end, and means for detachably connectingthe free end to the side of the article in overlapping relation thereto,the top edge of said cufl" being turnable down along a portion of saidedge and throughout its extent from end to end, whereby the wearer may,at will, arrange said cuff in any of a variety of wearing styles. v Y a6. As an article of manufacture, rubber footwear having an upperprovided with an opening permitting the expansion of the upper tofacilitate the introduction and the removal of the foot, meansv forclosing at least a portion ofthe length of said opening in the upper,said upper including a to portion which forms a cuff having two ends,one

of the en s being free and adapted to overlap r the other end, and meansfor detachably connecting the free end to the side of the up er inoverlapping relation thereto, the cuff eing of non creasing adjustablematerial finished on both sides whereby saidculf may bevoluntarilyadjusted by the wearer to any of a variety of wearing styles.

Signed at New'York, count and State of New York, this 18th day of une,1928.

HENRIETTA c. PORR.

